CAPE TOWN- Trade union Solidarity has on Tuesday reacted following allegations that Eskom’s board wants to make a payment of R11,2 million to Brian Molefe.
According to Deon Reyneke, Solidarity’s Deputy General Secretary for the Energy Industry, any payment in whatever form made to Molefe would amount to contempt of court.
According to Sunday Times report on Sunday, Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown had rejected bid by Eskom's board to pay Molefe a multimillion-rand golden handshake.
The request of Molefe’s R11.2-m settlement payment was made to Brown by interim board chairman Zethembe Khoza.
Solidarity had approached the Labour Court earlier this year to declare all Eskom payments in favour of Molefe to the pension fund as well as payments from the pension fund to Molefe unlawful.
“The issue of the legitimacy of the decision to pay any pension monies to Mr Molefe already serves before the court and the matter will be heard by the end of November,” Reyneke said.
It is further stated that Reyneke contends that any payment made under such circumstances and notwithstanding a pending court case would simply be a slap in the face for taxpayers.
“Should any payment be made before the court date and pending the outcome of litigation, the Minister and/or Eskom could be held in contempt of court,” said Reyneke.
“Should the Board continue making payment Solidarity will not hesitate to approach the court to stop such payments,” he warned.